Artificial light at night causes conflicting behavioural and morphological defence responses in a marine isopod

Jun 14, 2023Proceedings. Biological sciences

Artificial light at night causes opposing behavior and body changes in a marine isopod

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Abstract

Behavioural responses of isopods to artificial light at night were particularly exaggerated under diffuse lighting.

Isopods exhibited classic risk-aversion strategies when exposed to artificial light at night.
Diffuse lighting caused isopods to become lighter in color while they sought out darker backgrounds.
The study suggests a disconnect between behavioural responses and optimal morphological strategies in isopods.
Combined effects of lighting structure, background reflectance, and three-dimensional properties impacted anti-predator defences.

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Encroachment of artificial light at night (ALAN) into natural habitats is increasingly recognized as a major source of anthropogenic disturbance. Research focussed on variation in the intensity and spectrum of ALAN emissions has established physiological, behavioural and population-level effects across plants and animals. However, little attention has been paid to the structural aspect of this light, nor how combined morphological and behavioural anti-predator adaptations are affected. We investigated how lighting structure, background reflectance and the three-dimensional properties of the environment combined to affect anti-predator defences in the marine isopodExperimental trials monitored behavioural responses including movement and background choice, and also colour change, a widespread morphological anti-predator mechanism little considered in relation to ALAN exposure. We found that behavioural responses of isopods to ALAN were consistent with classic risk-aversion strategies, being particularly exaggerated under diffuse lighting. However, this behaviour was disconnected from optimal morphological strategies, as diffuse light caused isopods to become lighter coloured while seeking out darker backgrounds. Our work highlights the potential for the structure of natural and artificial light to play a key role in behavioural and morphological processes likely to affect anti-predator adaptations, survival, and ultimately wider ecological effects. Ligia oceanica.

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Artificial light at night causes conflicting behavioural and morphological defence responses in a marine isopod

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